Suggestion: Cloth Bound as a Format

[Laina]

To the powers that be:

I suggest that "Cloth Bound" be added as a book format option (e.g. paperback, hardcover).

I personally think of my cloth bound books as distinct from hardcover books, as they require different care. (At least here in Florida where the cloth covers tend to mildew when it's humid and mild for a few days running.) I really like the Everyman's Library cloth bound editions, so I have a quite a lot of cloth bound books in my collection.

Leather Bound is already a format option.

I realize that all of the Cloth Bound books currently listed as Hardcovers would be updated slowly over time, but, I think the improvement to the edition information would be worthwhile, even if it's not an immediate gain.

Thank you for your consideration!

ps, I have not posted in this group before, so please advise if my post is in the wrong folder.

[Meg]

Hi Laina!

Your suggestion would probably go better in the Goodreads Feedback Group. Librarians can't make that kind of change to the site, it's a staff decision.

[Nenangs]

Laina wrote: "To the powers that be:

I suggest that "Cloth Bound" be added as a book format option (e.g. paperback, hardcover).

I personally think of my cloth bound books as distinct from hardcover books, as..."

hi Laina,
actually we can click "other" for the format option (at the right side of the pulldown menu) and put anykind of format we want.

[vicki_girl]

However, based on currently policy, if someone uses "other" to put in cloth bound, it will eventually get changed back to Hardcover by a librarian.

If you want to track these for your own use, you can create a shelf/tag on "my books" for your cloth bound books.

Meg is correct in that the Feedback Group is the best place to get these types of requests reviewed. However, not to be a wet blanket, but I think such a change would be unlikely. We already have people rallying to remove many formats, such as merging Paperback and Mass Market Paperback.

[Scott]

It seems redundant to me as most hardcovers are cloth-bound, at least in part.

[Emy]

Scott wrote: "It seems redundant to me as most hardcovers are cloth-bound, at least in part."

Only in the West, in my experience... However, I view both as the same anyway :)

[Laina]

Hello all!

Thank you for your replies! I have re-posted in the Goodreads Feedback Group as suggested. If anybody would like to post their comments there, here is a direct link:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

It sounds like there is not much support for this idea, and I'm ok with adding a personal shelf as Vicki suggested if it is shot down over there too. :)

[Debbie's Spurts (D.A.)]

I don't think I've ever handled a hardcover that was not either leather or cloth bound (some with a laminating coating so thick hard to be sure). Odd materials in hardcover bindings I've only seen in museum displays.

[Laina]

Hi all !

What I think of as standard hardcover is plain heavy paper over cardboard with a cloth spine and dust jacket. I also have a few made with higher quality glossy paper where the cover art is directly on the glossy cover and there is no jacket. (These are mostly nonfiction or children's.)

What I am referring to as cloth bound is all cloth over cardboard and no paper. Like my leather bounds, most of my cloth bounds also have no dust jacket.

I prefer hardcovers so I only have a few paperbacks in my collection. So I may just be more particular than the average reader about this. :)

[❂ Murder by Death]

Laina, I agree with you, but I lean towards being more of a collector than I think a lot of avid readers are (sounds like you might be too). While GR wants to keep their DB as accurate as possible, they stop way short of being collector-accurate and I don't think it's a niche they feel is worth cultivating. But at least we have the ability to track the books we own and we have private notes if we need them.

[Laina]

Hi Jennifer! Although I personally feel it would improve the ISBN records - I totally understand that adding a new data tag that only a few people care about to millions of records is a total waste of resources... especially volunteer resources!

I've been going through my personal library and correcting ISBN record deficiencies, so it's just something that's been bugging me. I didn't realize I was on the fringe - what do you mean read and not collect!?! I thought a wall full of books was a reader's necessity! :)

[❂ Murder by Death]

Laina wrote: " I didn't realize I was on the fringe - what do you mean read and not collect!?! I thought a wall full of books was a reader's necessity! :) ..."

I'm with you 100%! I've told my DH that we have to build up on the house because I need a bigger room for my books! ;)

[Laina]

Ah, yes, that's the dream. A library! I've always wanted a conservatory as well. :) Maybe if you offer your husband a garage he'll go for the library. That would definitely work on mine, ha ha.

[Sarah (is clearing her shelves)]

Laina wrote: "Ah, yes, that's the dream. A library! I've always wanted a conservatory as well. :) Maybe if you offer your husband a garage he'll go for the library. That would definitely work on mine, ha ha."

:0 :0 I just had a library built and it's already turning out to be not quite big enough. I would love the kind of library that you might find at Pemberly or Netherfield with a big log fire and a room as big as the front half of my house covered from floor to ceiling, wall-to-wall with books. Some of which would be cloth bound, some leather bound, the rest a combination of paperback and normal hardcover. That would be the formal library with the nicest copies of all the books would live, I would also like a smaller more casual library where the more tatty ex-library books would be stored. But unfortunately that's going to have to wait until I can afford to buy a Pemberlyish estate that would fit all those dreams.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Sarah wrote: "Laina wrote: "Ah, yes, that's the dream. A library! I've always wanted a conservatory as well. :) Maybe if you offer your husband a garage he'll go for the library. That would definitely work ..."

Sadly, our property is too small for a garage. But if we build up another story, then I can convert our existing Master Bedroom into a Library like Sarah describes - it would take up the width of the house, it has a fireplace (small, old coal fireplace, but it's a fireplace! lol) and it has extremely high ceilings so I could easily go floor to ceiling with books upon books! And need a ladder to access them! :D

Sounds grand, but in reality, my "grand library" would fit in Pemberly's pantry with room to spare. ;)

[Laina]

Oh wow, congratulations, Sarah, on your new library! I'm sure it is divine! And, Jennifer, I hope your dreams of a library come true. It sounds like you have a viable option in building up!

Sadly, I do not have any library prospects. Instead I am working on keeping my books from taking over areas beyond the shelves. I just did a pretty decent cleanout to get them all back on the shelves, and now I have space for a few more new ones before I hit maximum capacity again. :)